Editor’s Note: This corrects earlier article that mentioned Joel Reyes and Luis Raymond Villafuerte as Palawan and Camarines Sur Representatives respectively.

MANILA, Philippines -- Seven senior members of the House of Representatives, including Speaker Jose de Venecia, are being eyed by the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats coalition as possible senatorial candidates in the 2010 elections.

Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita, a vice chair of Lakas, said the list of possible Lakas senatorial bets included himself, Deputy Speakers Raul del Mar of Cebu and Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao, House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor of Iloilo, House budget panel chair Edcel Lagman of Albay and Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, head of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments.

He said former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, who lost in the last Senate race, was also a top contender for one of the slots in the Lakas senatorial ticket.

“These are all the possibilities,” said Zialcita, who is on his third and last term as congressman. His disclosure came as the party scheduled a national directorate meeting in early February in time for its 10th anniversary celebration.

“Of course, the (choices for senatorial candidates) is subject to a party convention,” Zialcita said.

Zialcita said Lakas wanted to prepare early for the 2010 senatorial race after Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, then a third-term congressman from Bukidnon, was the lone winner from Lakas in the 2007 senatorial poll.

“We want to give our senatoriables a chance to be known better by the public this time around,” Zialcita said.

Aside from the House members, Zialcita said other possible candidates of Lakas for the Senate were Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymond Villafuerte and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.